See, You Are In A Different World

30

It was early in the morning, the sun wasn’t out and street lights were still on. The echoes of vehicles moving in the streets in the morning traffic, everything was in a breeze. People jogged while wearing their masks, other stores began to open their doors as they were all greeted by the beautiful morning. At the bus terminal, the five began waiting for the next bus to Georgia. They were all in a hurry but they couldn’t force the employees since it is everyone’s right, even if they wanted to fly, it would take them more than a day or two just to get to the next State. 

“Why didn’t we chose an Airplane?” Troy asked Heather, who was browsing on her phone. The roman was curious and wondering why, since it is faster than traveling on land.

“If we ride by plane, any deities who dared to fight us might affect other innocent lives which we couldn’t afford that,” Heather explained, the roman just nodded and went silent as they continued waiting.  

After a while, the next bus finally came in. Luckily, there were fewer people in the queue and the five were the first people to enter it. Amis walked onto the bus after Hasslicher and felt the cold moist in the bus, he began shivering as the coldness surround his body. This was his first bus ride Afterall.

“You alright?” the concerned Hasslicher asked. 

“Yes, I am fine,” Amis assured while saying it while twitching. Hasslicher sighed and gave Amis a spare cloth. 

“Here, wear this. It would be a long drive.” Hasslicher said while handing the cloth to the shivering Knight. 

“Thanks,” Amis said as he takes the cloth and wrapped it around his neck. He slowly stopped shivering and felt the warmth from the cloth, it felt like it was newly made and very clean with such an abundant fragrance, it was irresistible to keep on sniffing on it. 

The knight was curious about how did Hasslicher made it, but he wouldn’t resist the smell. They sat beside each other as the three were at the far end of the bus while they were in front of them. The bus is finally full, it slowly left the terminal and began its road journey. 

“Pardon Hasslicher, may I ask a question?” Amis asked Hasslicher, who was looking at the windows. He looked at him after hearing his name and so the conversation started.

“Sure, what is it?” Hasslicher asked the knight.

“How did you made this?” Amis asked while he looked at the cloth. Hasslicher smiled and looked back at the window.

‘You see, that came from the hotel but the fragrance was a combination of the fragrance of home.” Hasslicher explained, he sighed as he recalls some memories. 

“What’s so special about home?” Amis asked, he acted like a child who was curious about many things but he just wanted to know more about the person who would be with him on the entire journey. 

Hasslicher sighed and began to explain a lot of things. “All I can say is that home is the best place you will ever be in. The warm welcome of your furniture, family, pets, or any others would make you contempt about life. It releases the stress of the outside world and gave you a warm hug as you embrace yourself for another day.”

“Reminds me of the day when I was a kid. Every time after playing in the fields we went home with exhaustion and our mothers would give us our favorite dish and a warm welcome. My mother was a single parent but she manages to raise me properly. I was still a kid when I saw her cry after our father left us, I couldn’t do anything and just smiled at her and cooked our favorite food, which is my first time cooking one. After she wipes off her tears from her eyes, she showed up in the dining room, I invited her with the warm food and smile, We ate together and finally lived happily.” Hasslicher said while looking at the windows after remembering all of the memories in his home, it wasn’t a vivid memory, it was all too clear and everything he loves was there. Home is the most beautiful place you would go to.

“Is she still alive?” Amis asked once more.

“Yes. She lives in Colorado actually, you can meet her if you want.” Hasslicher said.

“Of course, it would lovely to meet her.” Amis was excited after knowing some bits of background about Hasslicher. He smiled and turn back at the windows to continue the view. 

Back at the far end of the bus, the three were quite and there was no sign of a conversation but after Troy heard the story about Hasslicher and his mom, he was concerned about how Heather allowed him to join, which he bothers for the most since he doesn’t want someone with a family getting hurt in many conflicts as possible. He looked at the angel who was scrolling on her phone while the succubus was taking a nap thanks to the cold wind of the bus. 

“Hey Heather,” Troy called the angel, she stopped looking at her phone and then looked at him. 

“What?” She whispered, they couldn’t talk to besides each other since Ayame was between them, and like earlier, she was asleep and they didn’t want to bother the ill Succubus. 

“Why did we allowed Hasslicher to join us?” He asked in a concerning voice while whispering to Heather in a few feet. Thanks to the mask though that they are safe and the two in front of them couldn’t hear them. 

“Well he wanted it and we couldn’t do anything about it,” Heather explained to the Roman.

“He could be useful on where could Tachibana be as well.” Heather continued as she discussed more Hasslicher.

“Can I request something?” Troy interrupted her, she sighed and allowed him to talk.

“Can we meet his mom?” Troy asked with his hands clapped together and begging the angel. 

“Fine.” She sighed as Troy felt happiness as he would meet somebody’s mother. 

“Troy, you should get some sleep,” Heather said to him, he sighed and slept as Ayame did.

“Fine.”